Practice has a long legacy in supporting industry professionals with workshops and masterclasses. From celebrated local veteran practitioners, to distinguished overseas practitioners, Practice is always on the lookout for opportunities that could benefit both local and overseas theatre communities.
Artist Farm (2018 - ongoing)
Every year, nine artists and three dramaturgs are invited for a unique creative boot camp, led by The Theatre Practice’s Artistic Director Kuo Jian Hong. Artist Farm is a safe haven for artists to work across disciplines, jam with little pressure, and most importantly play.
Engaging in training and skill exchange in the mornings, followed by creative sparring and work development in the afternoon and evenings, Artist Farm nurtures ideas and pushes the boundaries of collaborative practices. These artists must find common ground as the foundation of their collaboration – also known as “The Thesis Statement”. Through their artistic processes, we gain a unique insight into what it means to collaborate, experiment and play.
The journey concludes with a series of three public presentations. Audience members are invited to witness the evolution of works, and to dive deeper into the artistic process by engaging in critical open dialogue with our Farmers.
With just a week to toil, how do these artists find and articulate a unified, clear voice under such exquisite pressure?
Read more about Artist Farm:
THINK! Like A Designer
Collaboration and storytelling through visual means is the key to understanding theatre and the arts. Yet, how do we bridge the gap between the director’s vision and the designer’s concept?
Directors, choreographers, performance-makers, and creative producers are invited to step into the shoes of a scenic designer in a masterclass led by Kuo Jian Hong. Learn the basic principles and processes of conceptualising theatre design, and in turn develop a working vocabulary for clarity during artistic collaboration.
Course Components:
- Understanding space and how it tells a story, and how spatial design interacts with performers and other design elements
- Explore the process of development of concept from a designer’s perspective
- Critically analyse examples of scenic designs
- Create and present your own design concepts and scenic designs
- Substantiate concepts with research materials and mood boards
- Learn to communicate design ideas and concepts
Distinctive Features:
- Intimate and Highly Interactive Classes: Designed for a maximum of 10 participants, and includes a 30 minute personal consultation slot, as well as roundtable discussions and presentations to encourage dialogue between participants.
- Specialised and Intensive: Comprising a mix of theoretical and practical skills specially selected to equip you with the necessary tools to facilitate collaboration within your own practice.
- Experienced Facilitator: Based on her three decades of experience taking on multi-faceted creative roles, Jian Hong’s practice as a theatre designer continues to influence how she collaborates with her creative team as a director.
Practice: Stage Management
Responsible for the overall organisation, administration and coordination of a production, a stage manager is the control tower and nerve centre of every production. Led by Practice’s Producing and Production Lead Cecilia Chow, this 16-hour workshop offers beginners insight into the role.
Practice: Stage Management 1 will focus on equipping participants with the essential duties and skills of a stage manager, while Practice: Stage Management 2 will focus on developing competency by examining the role in relation to other collaborators within the production.
Practice: Stage Management 1
Course Components:
- Identify basic theatre terminology, recognise roles in a production team, and explain the production process
- Learn the administrative support required e.g. scheduling, rehearsal and bump in reports
- Preparing and managing different types of rehearsals e.g. setting up for rehearsals
Distinctive Features:
- Varied Modes of Teaching: Comprising a mix of theoretical and practical skills including online lectures and practical activities, as well as group work and class discussions to facilitate dialogue between participants.
- Solid Foundation Based on Industry Practices: Suitable for beginners and based on materials from Practice’s past productions, promising students may be offered opportunities for potential practicum beyond the course.
- Grounded in Practice’s Artistic Philosophy: Practice believes that fostering the spirit of collaboration is vital for art-making. The syllabus is designed to train effective Stage Managers, by considering their duties in relation to the needs of other collaborators.
- Experienced Facilitator: Based on her multidisciplinary experience across design, production and creative producing, Cecilia’s practice has given her multiple perspectives into the role of a Stage Manager.
Practice: Stage Management 2
Course Components:
- Understand the stage manager role in relation to the work processes of other collaborators e.g. production and stage management team, technical team, creatives
- Explore the different stages of a production e.g. rehearsals, full dress, technical rehearsals
- Learn how to manage a show after it opens e.g. show integrity management and archival
Distinctive Features:
- Varied Modes of Teaching: Comprising a mix of theoretical and practical skills including online lectures and practical activities, as well as group work and class discussions to facilitate dialogue between participants.
- Solid Foundation Based on Industry Practices: Suitable for beginners and based on materials from Practice’s past productions, promising students may be offered opportunities for potential practicum beyond the course.
- Grounded in Practice’s Artistic Philosophy: Practice believes that fostering the spirit of collaboration is vital for art-making. The syllabus is designed to train effective Stage Managers, by considering their duties in relation to the needs of other collaborators.
- Experienced Facilitator: Based on her multidisciplinary experience across design, production and creative producing, Cecilia’s practice has given her multiple perspectives into the role of a Stage Manager.
Philippe Gaulier Masterclass (2010- 2018)
In the realm of performance training for actors, Philippe Gaulier is one of today’s most influential and revolutionary theatre masters.
Gaulier’s distinctive approach to theatre-making comes from “Le Jeu” – “game and play”. He emphasises the importance of joy, human nature and the pleasure of play.
In 1980, Gaulier established his own theatre school, École Philippe Gaulier, now based in Paris, and welcomes international students from more than 30 different countries each year. Gaulier also frequently tours all over the world to conduct his masterclasses.
He is especially noted for his no-nonsense teaching style, mixed with a unique brand of sarcasm and sense of humour. In partnership with the National Arts Council for the last nine years, The Theatre Practice has been organising the Philippe Gaulier Master Class in Singapore, attracting full classes of local and international theatre practitioners who gleaned invaluable learning experiences!
Masterclasses offered:
2010 – Le Jeu
2011 – Melodrama
2012 – Clown
2013 – Bouffons
2014 – Shakespeare
2015 – Neutral Mask & Greek Tragedy
2016 – Le Jeu
2017 – Mask Play & Molière
2018 – Clown